Alternative Funding Models for Open Access Publishing

• August 5, 2024

The academic publishing landscape is experiencing a transformative shift towards open access (OA) models, which promote the free availability of research outputs. While the benefits of OA are widely recognized, the challenge of funding these models remains significant. Traditional subscription-based journals finance their operations through library and institutional subscriptions, but OA journals must explore alternative revenue streams to cover their costs. Here, we delve into various alternative funding models that can support the sustainability of open access publishing.

1. Article Processing Charges (APCs)

One of the most common models for funding OA journals is the Article Processing Charge (APC). Under this model, authors (or their institutions) pay a fee to publish their work, which covers the costs of peer review, editing, and hosting. While effective, APCs can be prohibitive, especially for researchers from low- and middle-income countries or those without sufficient grant funding. To mitigate this, some journals offer waivers or reduced fees based on financial need.

2. Institutional Support and Memberships

Many academic institutions recognize the value of open access and provide direct support to OA journals. This support can come in the form of subsidies, grants, or memberships. For instance, institutions might pay a flat fee to a publisher, allowing their affiliated researchers to publish OA without individual APCs. Examples include the Open Library of Humanities (OLH) and the Sponsoring Consortium for Open Access Publishing in Particle Physics (SCOAP³), which operate on this principle.

3. Consortia and Cooperative Models

Collaborative funding approaches, where multiple stakeholders share the financial burden, are gaining traction. Consortia like SCOAP³ pool resources from institutions, libraries, and funding agencies to support OA publishing. Similarly, cooperative models involve academic libraries and institutions working together to fund OA journals, thereby distributing costs more evenly and sustainably across the academic community.

4. Government and Foundation Grants

Government bodies and philanthropic foundations play a crucial role in funding OA initiatives. Many funding agencies now mandate that research they support be published OA, and they often provide grants specifically for this purpose. Notable examples include the Gates Foundation’s OA policy and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, which allocate significant resources to ensure that funded research is freely accessible.

5. Crowdfunding and Community Funding

Crowdfunding has emerged as a novel approach to finance specific OA projects. Platforms like Kickstarter and Experiment allow researchers to raise funds directly from the public to cover publication costs. Additionally, community funding models, where readers and stakeholders contribute financially to support journals they value, are being experimented with, though their long-term viability remains to be seen.

6. Freemium Models and Hybrid Approaches

Some publishers are exploring freemium models, where basic access is free, but additional services or content come at a cost. Hybrid models, where some articles are open access while others remain behind a paywall, also offer a compromise, generating revenue from subscriptions while gradually increasing OA content. This model, however, can lead to complexities in subscription negotiations and does not fully align with the principles of OA.

7. Advertising and Sponsorship

Advertising and sponsorship can provide supplementary revenue for OA journals. Ethical considerations must be carefully managed to maintain academic integrity and avoid conflicts of interest. Sponsors from academic and industry sectors can also fund special issues or sections within journals, aligning their brand with scientific advancement.

8. Institutional Repositories and Preprint Servers

Institutional repositories and preprint servers provide an alternative to traditional OA journals by enabling researchers to deposit their work for free. While these platforms typically don’t involve peer review, they facilitate rapid dissemination of research and can be supported through institutional funding and infrastructure investments.

The Path Forward for Sustainable Open Access

As the demand for open access continues to grow, exploring diverse and sustainable funding models is crucial for the future of academic publishing. While each model has its strengths and challenges, a multifaceted approach that leverages institutional support, government and philanthropic funding, cooperative efforts, and innovative financial strategies can create a robust ecosystem for OA publishing. By embracing these alternatives, the academic community can ensure that research remains accessible to all, fostering greater innovation and knowledge dissemination worldwide.

Photo via Center for Science in the Public Interest